HYDERABAD: The Congress high command has reportedly given the green light for a cabinet expansion in Telangana. Currently, six ministerial positions remain vacant in Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s administration, with plans to fill four of these slots. While sources from Gandhi Bhavan indicate that the new ministers are slated to take their oaths on April 3, deliberations over the final selections are ongoing. Names of potential candidates have been forwarded to the party leadership for consideration.
Amid these developments, Dalit MLAs from the Madiga community within the Congress party are intensifying their efforts to secure representation in the cabinet. They argue that while the Mala community has already been granted several positions, it is imperative to ensure equitable opportunities for the Madiga faction. In pursuit of this objective, several MLAs are reportedly planning to travel to Delhi to present their case to the party’s central leadership.
Formal Appeals to Senior Leaders
As part of the cabinet expansion, it is anticipated that positions will be allocated to representatives from the Backward Classes (BC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Minority communities, and the Reddy community. For those not appointed as ministers, roles such as Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip are under consideration. The Chief Whip position is likely to be offered to a member of the Madiga community or another BC leader who does not secure a ministerial berth. Consequently, SC Madiga MLAs are preparing to visit Delhi to advocate for their inclusion. They have already sent letters via email to senior Congress figures, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Venugopal, and Meenakshi Natarajan, emphasizing the need for their community’s representation in the cabinet. MLAs Adluri Laxman Kumar, Kavvampalli Satyanarayana, Vemula Veeresham, Mandula Samuel, and Kale Yadayya are among those actively seeking a ministerial position for the Madiga community.
Concerns Over Equitable Distribution
The Madiga MLAs have expressed concerns regarding the perceived imbalance in the distribution of positions within the party. They point out that the Mala community has already secured two ministerial posts and the Speaker’s position. Furthermore, they highlight that within a single family (referring to the Vivek family), two MLA positions and one MP position have been awarded. The prospect of granting another ministerial position to the same community has prompted the Madiga legislators to voice their dissent, underscoring the necessity for fair representation across all factions۔
